This column is the fourth and final one in this
series. Last week's dealt with some of
the overarching problems that need to be worked through as the Resistance
develops and gathers force. This one
presents some specifics on some of the large set of tasks that need to be
undertaken, if this "Repeal and Replace" movement is to be successful.

1. The enemy,
in the current struggle against Trumpite functional
fascism, must be clearly identified.
It is the Trumpite/Repub. party. Indeed,
especially as some of the old-line Repubs. leave the Party, it must be very
firmly tied to Trump. "Trump's base" that
is always being talked about in terms of "Trump must listen to his base" is the
Republican Party base. They are not
separate. They are not different. Any so-called "centrist" or "center-rightist"
Republicans who remain where they are, are Trumpite Enablers, as were the
Center and traditional Right-wing Parties in Nazi Germany.

2. Addressing
Trump himself: the focus must be on his policies and their outcomes, not his
personality, his ignorance, his stupidity (as so-labeled by senior cabinet
members), his sexually-predatorial nature, his personal racism, his eating
habits, his TV-watching habits, and so on and so forth. Those are all part of the "Aura of Trump"
which proves so useful to him and his facilitators, as distractions from what
he is really doing in terms of policy and programs. As to why the economically dominant sector of
the ruling class and their lackeys in the Congress are so satisfied with him,
even though he might not have been their first choice to be President --- in
terms of the primary goals of those in power who did get him elected, tax cuts for
the rich and massive de-regulation in the arenas of the environment (including
global warming), labor, industry, food, agriculture, health, and etc., (or as Steve Bannon calls it, the
"deconstruction of the administrative state"), he has had an outstanding first
year.

Mitch McConnell. Mitch McConnell. Why is this man smiling? Because since his declaration of total non-cooperation with Pres. Obama is 2008, he is Congressional Repub. most responsible for the progression to Functional Fascism.(Image by Gage Skidmore)PermissionDetailsDMCA

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3. The adaptation
of the Trump/Repubs. to Religious Authoritarianism, for political purposes , must be recognized and dealt with.
Pence, specifically, is a Dominionist . That must be brought out into
the open. The negative consequences for
both the conventionally religious and the non-religious alike must be revealed
(if I may use that term) and dealt with.
In dealing with matters like abortion- and LGBTQ- rights the battle must
move beyond "fairness," "privacy," and "non-discrimination in the public square"
(all valid arguments to be sure) to the matters of religious dogmatism, religious
authoritarianism, and state-sponsored/protected religion.

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4. It must
be understood, and explained, over and over again, that race and racism are
invented concepts (invented during the early period of European/African Slavery
in order to justify its existence). They
were invented as tools of exploitation of the non-slave working class, and
still are: very much so in
the United States. This must be
explained to the working class, over-and-over again. Oddly enough, it was Bill Clinton, at the
beginning of his first Presidential campaign, who put very well :

" For 12 years, the Republicans have tried to divide
us, race against race' Mr. Clinton said.
'Here in the shadow of this great building, all of us, we know all about race- baiting. They've used that old tool on us for
decades now. And I want to tell you one thing:
I understand that tactic, and I will not let them get away with it in 1992."

Of course, we have heard virtually nothing of that message from
that man (or the other Clinton) over the years since, but that doesn't mean
that it is not totally valid and very useful.
But, "identity politics" should not be abandoned. Rather it should be used to show just how it
is used by the Trumpite-Repubs. to get into and stay in power. (See also below.)

5. Nobody is
perfect. The Perfect is the enemy of the
Possible. Is co-optation possible? For sure.
It has happened many times, e.g. currently, Syriza in Greece. Nevertheless, in the kind of struggle in
which we are presently engaged, seeking perfection on our side is exactly what our
enemies would like us to do.

6. And thus
we come to "Dealing with the Dems." They
are a ruling class party, of course. But
certainly they support certain positive goals.
Attacking them, as an enemy, only strengthens the attacks from the
Repub./Trumpites. At the same time, when
they take actions that weaken the attack on the Trumpites and Functional Fascism,
that must be strongly criticized. I do not have a magic answer to this one. But I will say that for the Progressive elements
of the Resistance to constantly attack them when the focus should be Trump and
the Repubs., and refusing to enter into alliances with them on a case-by-case,
issue-by-issue basis, will only weaken the Resistance overall.

7. "Trump/Russia" is a superb distraction for the
Tumpites. It is their (and Trump's) WMD:
Weapon of Mass Distraction. If it did
not exist, they would have to invent it.
It is still too early to tell if there is "something there" (although
the Trumpites' behavior does indicate that there is). Some on the Left believe that it is real. Others do not (and man, I can hear their
attacks on me for saying this rumbling down the pike ---- exactly what the
Trumpites want.). BUT, the more in-fighting
there is over this question, the more the Trumpites benefit. The important
thing is what they have been able to accomplish in their first year, while the public's
attention is largely distracted by "Trump/Russia" and all the too-ing and
fro-ing around it.

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8. The role
of the media. Of course, the mass media
are part of the Corporate State. But
once again, we have to be reminded that the ruling class is not at this time united.
The same goes for their media. Thus, to
the extent that CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and even
USA-Today and (on occasion) The Wall Street Journal can be helpful in the
struggle, that help should be welcomed.
There can be criticism of "not going far enough," but the baby should
not be thrown out with the bathwater. On
a mass basis they are all we have in the struggle against (to repeat) Trumpite/Republican/Functional
Fascism, other than the courts, which are very rapidly being taken over by the fascists. That the media are the subject of the incessant
attacks by the Trumpites, and especially Trump himself, tells one all one needs
to know about their effectiveness. Our
side should demand that they do more, not condemn them for what they are doing.

9. There is
no contradiction between "identity" politics and "class" politics. They must be melded. As noted above, racism is used to divide and
conquer. Are there pure haters in the
alt-right? Sure. But many are tricked into it. Messages must be developed to bring home the
point that the interests of the white working class, the non-white working
class, and the whites and non-whites in any but the owning classes are the
same.

10. It must be
clearly shown why and how Trumpite/Repub./functional fascism is bad for almost
everyone, including large swaths of "Trump voters," as in:

11. Data and
information on exactly what is happening to this country as a result of the Trumpite/Repub./fascist
policies are essential to the struggle.
What I have for years called a "Local Problems Bank," that is a vast set
of linkages between local problems in the environment, pollution, water supply,
transportation, schools, health services, and etc., and national policies must
be developed. For example, collecting
chapter and verse on what each Department of the Administration is doing, under
Trumpite leadership (or non-leadership, as the case may be), and how virtually
everyone is being hurt, must be assembled.

Steven Jonas, MD, MPH, MS is a Professor Emeritus of Preventive Medicine at StonyBrookMedicine (NY) and author/co-author/editor/co-editor of over 35 books. In addition to his position on OpEdNews as a "Trusted Author," he is a Senior Editor, (more...)